Welcome to my blog.
This is my creative outlet that could include my thoughts on anything from current affairs, my weight loss quest and things that just make me need to voice an opinion.
I'm not what you would consider a BIG Nascar fan. I enjoy watching it from time to time and I was a Dale Earnhardt fan many years ago because I loved how he raced but I certainly don't plan my schedule around race season.
At the end of that movie, Ricky Bobby and his nemesis Jean Girard crash on the final lap at Talladega. They get out of their cars and sprint by foot to the finish line to declare the winner.
That movie came out in 2006 and just three years later at the same track in real life, Carl Edwards was able to crawl out of his wrecked car after a spectacular crash on the last lap in today's race and did his best Ricky Bobby impression.
If you're just going to throw away 1.4 billion dollars, then why not just give it to me instead?
This footage was released this past week by the United States Defense Department and is from Anderson Air Force Bace in Guam. On February 23, 2008 a U.S. Air Force B-2 Stealth Bomber crashed during take-off. I believe the problem was related to moisture in the on board flight computer controls. It is the first time the Americans have lost a B2.
As you'll see the first bomber takes off without any problems but the second gets into trouble right after leaving the runway and eventually starts to drag the left wing along the ground. The two crew members eject just before it slams back into the ground and explodes.
Different sports give thrills and chills to different fans.
I love watching hockey while others can't stand it. On the other side, I'd rather have shock therapy than be forced to watch a soccer game.
There are many different reasons why people watch sports. For some, like me, it's a chance to cheer for their favourite team or player or a sheer love of the game. Others will watch certain sports with the hope that something terrible will happen. Don't get me wrong, I love a good hockey fight but rarely is anyone seriously hurt.
Recently those questionable fans have had plenty to keep their sick and twisted minds satisfied. We've seen soccer players break legs, a hockey player nearly die from a skate accidentally slashing the carotid artery in his neck and with the return of Nascar, plenty of accidents.
Racing a car on a track is dangerous but safety precautions in the equipment and built into the cars today will allow many drivers to walk away from serious crashes when they wouldn't in the past. The same can't be said for athletes who have nothing to protect them other than a helmet and some pads. Some sports have even less than that.
Of course any athletes who involve themselves in sports at all levels realize there is a greater risk of injury or death depending on the sport in which they participate.
One sport that I know is very risky but is often forgotten about is downhill skiing. Sadly this past weekend we were reminded of the risks involved and one skier paid the price. To make matters even worse, the outcome might have been better had race officials provided the means in which to improve an injured skiers chances of recovery or to receive quicker treatment.
Austrian skier Matthias Lanzinger's lower left leg was amputated Tuesday because of complications from two broken bones in a crash at a World Cup race. Lanzinger broke his shin and fibula Sunday during a super-G. The double fracture severely damaged blood vessels, hampering circulation in the 27-year-old skier's leg.The Austrian ski federation said the surgery Monday night was only partly successful and left doctors no other option in an effort to avoid further risks.
Organizers of the race in Kvitfjell, Norway, were criticized because no medical helicopter was available. Lanzinger was flown to a hospital in Lillehammer in a tourist helicopter, and later was brought to Oslo.
Lanzinger, who started 30th, crashed near the finish after hitting a gate. The race, won by teammate Georg Streitberger, was interrupted for more than 30 minutes.
Below is video of the accident. Viewer Discretion Advised.
I was saddened to learn that another member of the Canadian Air Force Aerobatic Team known as the Snowbirds had crashed and been killed on Friday.
Capt. Shawn McCaughey of Quebec was killed after his jet crashed Friday afternoon in Montana while preparing for a weekend air show. No one ejected from the jet after it broke formation and crashed.
The Snowbird pilots are great ambassadors of Canada and represent the thousands of men and women in our armed forces wonderfully. It is always sad to see a tragedy like this happen but these pilots all know the risk and are willing and able to take on this challenge which they believe in so strongly. It makes me proud to be a Canadian every time I am lucky enough to witness them first hand. I've been very fortunate to live in an Air Force town which has given me countless opportunities to see this team in action over the years.
By my count there have been six pilots who have died as a result of a crash while performing with the Snowbirds. This is the 36th year that the Snowbirds have been in operation after forming in 1971. There have been several more close calls with pilots having to eject due to malfunctions or coming into contact with each other. Thankfully the total number of deaths is not higher.
I have always been a fan of Air Shows and up until recently, the annual Trenton Air Show was something I always looked forward to but that tradition appears to have come to an end with no mention of any further shows. The last Air Show in Trenton was in 2003 and like all of the Air Shows before then, I was in attendance.
The first time I saw the Snowbirds fly was in 1972 at the Trenton Air Show. It was just their second season and sadly, this was also the sight of their first fatality.I was almost 4 years old and I can still remember it today.
My mom and dad and my brother Scott and I were standing at the fence line watching the Snowbirds perform and were amazed by what we were seeing. They had already done a couple of maneuvers in formation and the two solo pilots were now doing their well known head on pass. The planes approach each other and at the right time they do a roll and avoid each other while giving the crowd a thrill.
The two planes passed in front of us. I don't remember hearing any sound of them clipping wings but I recall my mother saying, "Look, they're dropping leaflets." As it turns out it was actually aircraft parts falling to the ground. The Snowbird heading East went into a spin and flew into the ground and exploded on impact. The plane going West continued on into the distance and was wavering from side to side tipping its wings.The rest of the planes broke formation and a couple flew after the solo pilot still in the air while the remaining aircraft landed.
The fire trucks rolled and were on the scene but the damage had been done as Captain Lloyd Waterer (24) was killed instantly. I had heard from my uncle who was on the ground crew that day and was one of the first on scene that Captain Waterer did eject, but his plane was spinning so fast that he actually ejected while upside down and ejected into the ground.
It is my hope and my belief that this will not cause people to cry out that this team should come to an end and be disbanded. After previous incidents there has been talk of this happening but thankfully so far it has only been talk.
The only question might surround the aircraft themselves as they are an aging machine. The Canadair CT-114 Tutors have been a very reliable airplane and you can bet they receive thorough inspections on a regular basis but sometimes change can be good. I'm not sure what they'd be able to use instead but I'd love to see them flying CF-18 Hornets or something similar in the future. As long as they continue to fly and perform, I and many other Canadians will be happy.
One of my favourite movies of all-time was about Nascar and that would be Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly.
